Scratch-Built Scrambler Part 11

We have been teasing you with the finish of the Scrambler project for what seems like years—because it has been years! The reality of the build is that we might be a little picky. We also have a bad habit of changing things around.

We are finishing up with the wiring, which is a combination of a Hotwire Auto engine harness and a Painless Performance Universal Jeep replacement harness.

The Hotwire harness will electrify the 5.9L Dodge Magnum engine we nabbed from a wrecked ’99 Dodge truck, and the Painless Performance harness will power everything from the firewall back. Both harnesses are plug-and-play; the only thing we had to sort out was the duplicate underdash gauge and ignition wires. Hotwire helped us out with some of the duplicate wire issues, which saved us hours of clipping, splicing, and figuring out what goes where. Both companies produce high-quality products that makes custom and replacement wiring a breeze.

Dash layout is important whether you are installing a custom dash or just adding new gauges and switches or lights. You need to be able to easily read and reach them. To get a good feel for the layout, map out all the components while the dash is in the vehicle, while sitting in both the driver and passenger seats.

We are at a point on the build where we have to correct a number of minor issues, like the clearances between such moving parts as the steering and suspension components. We have to sort out dash layout, lighting, interior, and heating and A/C. The guys at T&J Performance Center in Orange, California, are allowing us to use their facility to work on the Jeep, and are a great source of technical knowledge and help.